Best fuel pump for 89 Colony Park

[WagonMan]

My Spectra fuel pump shit in my wagon. There are a lot of choices for replacements. Very inexpensive to costly. Any input on brands? Should I get a complete unit or just a pump?
WagonMan

[Tiggie]

I also have a spectra in my 90. Longer crank times and talks a little too loud. My 88 runs the stock pump to my knowledge, and is quieter and quicker to start.

Maybe someone else would be able to provide info on some other brands.

[gadget73]

I've had the same Walbro in my Towncar for years. Quiet, works fine. Was a Summit-boxed pump so slightly cheaper than Walbro-boxed.

[sly]

Replaced the fuel pump in my 93 with a Spectra Premium assembly... No complaints.

[WagonMan]

Maybe I am crazy, but I think I would want one that is noisy so I can hear if it is working when I turn the key on. WagonMan

[sly]

I can say that mine is noisy enough to hear prime, but once the ending starts, can't really hear it.

[bgreywolf]

A goodly number of long crank problems are caused by the check valve in the return line. If the fuel pressure drops to zero fairly soon after the pump stops, this is a likely candidate.
Replacing the whole hanger assembly replaces the check valve; I haven't looked to see if it's available separately (but I'm sure someone, somewhere, makes one).

[kishy]

If the fuel pressure drops to zero fairly soon after the pump stops, the candidates are, in my opinion in this order of likelihood: the in-tank rubber line from the fuel pump to the metal line, injectors which do not fully seal, lazy or leaking fuel pressure regulator, fuel pump itself, external fuel leak.


For what it's worth a $50 (Canadian) Autobest fuel pump is in my wagon. It was the cheapest fuel pump on the market at the time which satisfied OE specs. Not wanting to jinx anything here, but you don't need to spend real money to get a fuel pump. A lot of it comes down just to chance. They live in a sort of hostile environment.

A noisy fuel pump can be useful for diagnostic purposes as mentioned, but motor and pump technology has progressed somewhat in this specific field, and a brand new pump of good design which works well should be significantly quieter than the pumps that are being taken out in most cases. The new pumps which have gone into the Lincoln (Bosch specced for a '91), Ranger (Carter specced for a '93), and wagon (the Autobest, F1193 I think) are all audible during prime but you can't pick their noise out of the other vehicle sounds when the engine is idling.

[WagonMan]

I pulled the tank and pump assembly out of my 89 Crown Vic sedan parts car. Tank is a fairly new Spectra and the pump assembly is fairly new but has no identifying marks as to brand. Funny thing, there was no sock/strainer attached. None floating inside the tank either. Looks like the pump part is interchangeable, but with no sock/strainer I think I'll buy a new one. WagonMan

[kishy]

As it happens, that same Autobest pump came up as the cheapest which RockAuto could ship from the same location as my shocks (for the 86), so I've just bought another one today. 51 CAD plus I think 3 bucks for the matching strainer.

It is worth noting that regardless of where you buy your pump and what brand you buy, none/few of the pump manufacturers are making their stuff consistently cross-compatible with strainers for other manufacturers, so it would be best to buy the pump and strainer from the same brand or if doing so in a retail store, make sure they fit together before leaving. But in the case of some, once installed, they cannot be separated, so don't push it on too far.

Also worth noting that the modern design pumps are thinner than the chubby things the cars were built with new, so depending on your hanger design, a sleeve is necessary to make the pump fit nicely and some pumps do include that sleeve.

[gadget73]

I don't think hangers are available for wagons, or were not last I knew. The sock would be a sinker, but its possible someone left it off. Would work just ducky until you got down to maybe 1/4 tank. Then it would likely cut out on turns, and you'd probably have it die completely by 1/8 tank. No sock would also let the pump suck up any big chunks sloshing around in the tank and that would do it no favors.


The Walbro in mine is for a Mustang, and it is skinnier than original. Its held in place with a couple of hose clamps punched through the original rubber boot. If you use a sleeve make sure its either provided with the pump or is made of fuel-compatible rubber. I saw a pic where someone used a radiator hose as an adapter. It turned into a slimy ball of goo after sitting in the tank a while. The pump to plate fuel hose has the same issue, there is a specific type of in-tank hose for that spot.

[WagonMan]

Complete pumps are available for wagons, Spectra part# SP2056-H $92 from Amazon. WagonMan